"HighGround has grown from a little idea—to better the employee experience in the workplace—to a fast-growing company that has innovated the way companies engage their most precious resource: their people," Sandhir said in an e-mail. "Our revenue is expected to grow 200 percent this year and our user population is expected to expand by over 400 percent.

"My passion is starting new companies, and now that HighGround is hitting a new level, I feel it is time to step out of the day-to-day operations and continue to guide the vision of HighGround as an active board member."

HighGround, which has about 75 workers, makes employee evaluation software with the goal of ongoing coaching rather than relying on once-a-year reviews. Customers include Fortune 500 companies and household names such as Patagonia.

The company has raised more than $19 million from investors including Method Capital (formerly KDWC Ventures), Columbus Nova Technology Partners and Lightbank. Sandhir previously worked at Echo Global Logistics, a tech company launched by Lightbank co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky. He also was a co-founder of Fooda, which also was backed by Lightbank.

"We have some big deals we're trying to get over the finish line," said Harris, who joined HighGround in April 2016. She co-founded Emerging Solutions, an enterprise software services firm launched in the late '90s that was sold in 2011 to Emtec. "We have high expectations to triple in revenue next year, similar to growth you saw this year," said Harris, who declined to disclose HighGround's financials.

Harris has been an op-ed contributor for Crain's. Read some of her pieces: